10 Best College Hookup Apps for Students to Find Matches

College hookup apps have entirely changed the dating culture of college students. Of course, no one will argue that student life is one of the most amazing years of your life. You make new friends, live at a campus with strangers, do after-class activities, and join art, music, or science groups. But the most exciting part is dating. You sit together with your boyfriend or girlfriend at classes, study together, have lunch, or even live in the same dorm.

It’s the experience every student dreams of having. But for some people, it doesn’t go as planned. You may find that no one among your classmates is your type, or you simply don’t want to date the guy or girl from your study group. The issue gets more complicated for the representatives of the LGBTQ community. You may have a huge crush on someone but feel shy to ask him if he is into guys as well.

Fortunately, hookup apps for college students are here to make your life easier. The best thing about online dating platforms is that you can read people’s profiles and learn a lot about them before even talking to them. These apps show there the person studies, what he likes to do a hobby, what his sexual orientation is, and a lot more. You’ll also learn whether he is interested in love and romantic relationships or wants fun and casual sex. If you want to date someone studying at a particular colleague, you’re free to set filters and discover everyone studying there.

But wait, isn’t it shameful if your classmates find out you’re using a college hookup app to find a partner? It isn’t definitely. Dating culture has changed over time, and now the younger generation shouldn’t follow traditional dating rules. A few years ago, people would look at you with pity, learning that you find matches on online dating sites. Nowadays, it’s the new normal. Everyone is on Tinder, at least. Before meeting in real life, people see each other’s profiles, check out photos, start a communication, and then meet in real life if they feel chemistry. And yes, it’s quite acceptable.

Are you wondering why you should choose college hookup apps over other dating apps? As a college student, you don’t want to waste time on older people interested in marriage. Instead, you need to be among like-minded people who understand the nuances of student life. They are young, full of energy, like to party, study together, or do other after-class activities. They understand you when you’re stressed or can’t find time to meet because of exams. That’s why instead of mainstream dating platforms, you should choose a niche colleague hookup app designed particularly for students.

Like every game has a rule, online hookup also has its dos and don’ts.

• Be yourself! Nowadays, everyone on the Internet is fake, pretending to be someone they aren’t. It won’t do any good to you. If your goal is to find a casual hookup partner, you can meet these people in real life one day. If you want those relationships to work, you should be yourself, be proud of who you are, and feel confident.
• Make the first move! This advice is, particularly for girls. Forget about all the traditional dating rules and take the initiative to say “hi” first or ask the guy out. A good match will appreciate your move.
• Be creative! On casual college sex apps, the standard “hey” isn’t good enough. You should be more creative and write a good icebreaker or a hook. Usually, it’s a good idea to start the conversation with a question.
• Be open! Always remember that people online differ from their real-life variants. So, don’t form expectations about someone you’re talking to not to get disappointed when you physically meet. Concentrate on getting to know each other better and keep your mind open.
• Be honest about your intentions! No one expects you to be a saint on college hookup apps, so be honest with what you want. Don’t start dating just because you’re afraid of what the guy will think about you if you hook up the same day you meet.
• Meet in public places! No matter how bad you want to move to the next level in your relationships, make sure to meet in public places until you know each other well enough. It’s the number one safety measure of online dating.

When the time for choosing a good college hookup app has finally come, don’t sign up for the one that Google recommends first. Taking first place on search engines merely means that the website is well-optimized for the particular keyword. Though this fact may indirectly be a sign of quality and trustworthiness, it isn’t a direct indicator.

• Ask friends what app they use and how satisfied they are with it. A friend’s recommendation is the most reliable testimony.
• Read customer feedback on third-party websites. People like to share their experiences, especially the bad ones, with the public. So, if the hookup app you choose has poor service, people will mention it.
• Check out review articles published by various experts. Here you’ll find a detailed description of services provided by the hookup apps for college students. You’ll learn about the structure of their audience, users’ geographical location, membership plans offered, and subscription costs.

10 Best College Hookup Apps

Tinder (iOS; Android)

Tinder is the leader of the best college hookup apps. One of the reasons why young people love this app is its swiping functionality. The system selects and displays photos of potential candidates with little information about them. By swiping a picture to the right, you indicate that the person is interesting, while the left swipe is refusal. It’s very important not to confuse the directions; otherwise, you may end up refusing someone charming.

However, you cannot communicate with people of your interest yet. Tinder allows exchanging messages only if you’re mutual matches. This feature allows users to control from whom they want to receive messages. As a result, rest assured that you won’t receive any emails from scammers, and if you do, you just have to unmatch.

Pros:

• Tinder’s audience includes young people and college students;
• It’s possible to sign up with an existing Facebook account;
• The Tinder team strictly moderates photos and requests verifying profiles.

Cons:

• The app is overwhelmed with irritating ads
• Some features are available for paying users only
• There is a high risk of communicating with fraudulent people.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

Tinder Gold under 28

• 15 USD/1 month
• 53 USD/6 months
• 83 USD/12 months

Tinder Gold over 28

• 30 USD/1 month
• 113 USD/6 months
• 150 USD/12 months

Tinder Plus under 28

• 10 USD/1 month
• 35 USD/6 months
• 55 USD/12 months

Tinder Plus over 28

• 20 USD/1 months
• 60 USD/6 months
• 80 USD/12 months

Bumble (iOS; Android)

The list of free college hookup apps would be incomplete without Bumble. It positions itself as a woman-oriented platform where females are in charge of making decisions. Since its first launch in 2014, the dating app has gained over 80 million members, most of which belong to the 20-25 age category. Hence, it’s an ideal place for college students to find casual hookups or dating partners.

The matchmaking functionality of Bumble is based on swiping suggested candidates’ pictures. The match is made if both people find each other attractive and swipe right. Then, female users have 24 hours to send a message to men. Once the man has answered that message within 24 hours, the communication restriction disappears, and you can talk whenever you want.

Since Bumble is a modern, open-minded platform, representatives of the LGBTQ community can also register. In this case, the messaging priority doesn’t belong to the female user. Any party is free to initiate a conversation.

Pros:

• Users can download the Bumble app from App Store and Play Market free of charge;
• The application suggests nearby matches based on your location;
• Users can exchange messages only if they are mutual matches.

Cons:

• The propriety of sending the first message belongs to women. Male users have to wait;
• The information imported from Facebook upon registration is incomplete;
• The website has only an informational character.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

• 8.99 USD/1 week
• 24.99 USD/1 month
• 49.99 USD/3 months

Hinge (iOS, Android)

Hinge is a mainstream dating app that welcomes people of all ages, races, and sexual orientations. Although it’s quite popular among senior users, the target audience of Hinge consists of young adults. Hence, this platform is perfect for students looking for free college hookup apps. Besides casual affairs, Hinge actively promotes itself as an app that helps find love and build long-term relationships. According to the statistics provided by the platform, over 35 thousand real-life dates happen per week.

Like most college hookup apps, Hinge also doesn’t have a web version. For registering and using its services, you should download the app and create an account. As a result, your account will “go” anywhere with you, and you’ll access your conversations anytime.

Pros:

• The registration and profile setup process is pretty fast;
• The design of the app is modern, minimalistic, and aesthetically pleasing;
• The member base is huge, which allows finding like-minded people effortlessly.

Cons:

• Hinge is available as an application. It doesn’t have a website;
• Users have different intentions – from one-night stands to romantic relationships;
• Some advanced features are locked for standard users.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

• 9.99 USD/1 month
• 20.97 USD/3 months
• 29.94 USD/6 months

OkCupid (Web; iOS; Android)

OkCupid is the best choice for people looking for a trustworthy online dating platform. It has a leading position among the best college hookup apps due to the quality of provided services.

It’s a mainstream app where people join with different intentions – casual hookups, dating, get married, or romantic relationships. Everyone here can find a compatible match due to the platform’s accurate matchmaking algorithm. It means that if you’re interested in casual affairs only, you’ll never be matched with someone who’s looking for a marriage partner.

Moreover, if you allow the app to access your location, it will recommend users in your neighborhood. Thus, it’s a very useful function for people wanting to meet in real life. And, it’s worth remembering that the more detailed information you provide, the more accurate matches the system will suggest.

Pros:

• The search tool has many filters that accurately find people;
• The platform doesn’t discriminate against people based on their sexual orientations;
• It’s possible to connect the OkCupid account with your Instagram profile.

Cons:

• It’s impossible to text people randomly. You should become mutual matches first;
• There are some inactive and fake profiles available on the platform;
• Some profiles are empty because people hurry up to register and don’t fill in the required data.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

A-List Membership

• 15.99 USD/1 month
• 35.99 USD/3 months
• 47.99 USD/6 months

A-List Premium Membership

• 29.99 USD/1 month
• 74.99 USD/3 months
• 119.99 USD/6 months

Coffee Meets Bagel (iOS, Android)

Three sisters came together in 2021 and created the Coffee Meets Bagel app – an innovative solution in the dating industry. Analyzing different apps, they noticed that the ratio of male and female users on these platforms is imbalanced. So they tried to address this issue in the app they would create.

As a result, Coffee Meets Bagel was born. The app suggests six male candidates a day to women. The app doesn’t choose these profiles randomly but filters them based on different criteria. As a result, female users get six highly compatible matches who they can text immediately.

Though the platform has a vast audience, it’s predominantly popular among the younger generation. In addition, it’s the favorite dating app of students looking for casual college sex.

Pros:

• The registration process is short since users should fill in some basic info;
• The app allows women to choose with whom they want to chat;
• Most profiles are genuine and belong to real people.

Cons:

• The website plays only a promotional and informational role;
• Students looking for free college hookup apps should know that some features are paid for.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

• 34.99 USD/1 month
• 74.99 USD/ 3 months
• 119.99 USD/6 months
• 179.99 USD/12 months

The HER (iOS; Android)

HER is an online dating platform owned by the LGBTQ community. The platform targets lesbian, bisexual and trans women globally. Students consider HER an excellent college hookup app since its non-judgmental and cozy atmosphere makes them feel at home.

HER doesn’t promote itself as a platform where users can find compatible one-night stand partners only. Instead, it encourages people to create deeper connections, build meaningful and beautiful relationships. Besides being a dating app, HER is also a social networking platform. Here users can make friends, join discussion groups, and get support. Special app’s features, such as Events or Meet, helps users have a nice time here.

Pros:

• Since all users are LGBTQ+ individuals, the platform has a supportive atmosphere;
• Most features are available without a premium subscription;
• Unlimited messaging is available for standard users as well.

Cons:

• A pop-up frequently appears to remind users to upgrade their profiles;
• Only age and location filters are available for standard users;
• The website has only a promotional character.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

• 14.99 USD/1 month
• 59.99 USD/6 months
• 8.99 USD/12 months

Zoosk (Web; iOS; Android)

Zoosk, one of the most well-known hookup apps for college students, boasts over 38 million active users. It’s a mainstream app that caters to all people regardless of ethnicity, age, location, or sexual orientation. In the 2015 Webby Awards, the Zoosk dating app won first prize in the category of N1 dating app. Over time, Zoosk’s fame has grown, and currently, it operates in more than 70 countries of the world.

Zoosk ensures that all its accounts are 100% genuine. All users should undergo the photo verification process and confirm their identity. This procedure rules out the likelihood of creating a fake account. Since all verified accounts receive a green checkmark, choose only profiles with that verification mark while searching for a casual college sex partner.

Pros:

• Registration on the Zoosk app is a pretty fast process;
• The key to the app’s success is its attractive and eye-pleasing design;
• Users should undergo a photo verification procedure to confirm their identity.

Cons:

• Messaging is limited to premium users only;
• It’s impossible to search for accounts based on their interests;
• Unlike the app, the website has outdated layouts.

Prices:

Free membership is present, but limited.

• 29.95 USD/1 month
• 59.85 USD/3 month
• 89.98 USD/6 month

Badoo (Web; iOS; Android)

Badoo doesn’t position itself as a pure online dating app. Instead, it’s hybrid social networking and dating platform where people can meet, chat, make friends, and date. Though the app doesn’t put age restrictions, most users belong to the 18-25 age category. It means that Badoo is an ideal college hookup app for students.

Younger users love Badoo because of its multiple options for registration. You can choose to fill in your personal information manually or click the “Sing in via Facebook” or “Sign in via VKontakte” buttons and create an account within seconds. Don’t forget to undergo the photo verification process. To do that, you should take a selfie and send it to operators. Once you’ve successfully verified your account, the system will recommend only verified candidates to you.

Pros:

• Badoo has a strict photo verification procedure;
• The platform has over 500 million members from 180 countries of the world;
• Badoo has a quite appealing design and straightforward navigation.

Cons:

• Free membership doesn’t include many functions, so you have to subscribe to a premium package;
• Profiles include minimal information about gender, age, and location;
• Besides the premium membership, you should buy credits to use some functions.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

• 12.99 USD/1 month
• 31.99 USD/3 months
• 47.99 USD/6 months

Grindr (iOS; Andorid)

The list of the best college hookup apps would be incomplete without Grindr. It’s a social networking and dating app designed for gay, bisexual, and trans men. Although the platform has a website, it only includes sections like Term of Service, Contacts, Blog, etc. To register on Grindr, you should download the application from Play Market or App Store.

The statistics say that the average age of Grindr users is 20-25. Therefore, it means that students looking for casual college sex can find peers here. Moreover, since the app accesses users’ GPS location, it seeks, finds, and suggests nearby candidates. Hence, if someone from your college or campus is registered on Grindr, the app will find him for sure.

Pros:

• It’s a niche app designed exceptionally for gay, bisexual, and trans people only;
• The app cares about its users’ security and protects their data;
• The app allows blocking and reporting offensive or suspicious accounts.

Cons:

• Sometimes the app works with glitches;
• Standard accounts have to put up with annoying ads;
• The functionality of free accounts is limited.

Prices:

Free membership is present, but limited.

• 19.99 USD/1 month
• 39.99 USD/3 months
• 66.99 USD/6 months
• 99.99 USD/1 year
• 50.00 USD/ monthly unlimited
• 300 USD/ yearly unlimited

Happn (Web; iOS, Android)

Happn is an initiative dating app for people that hate swiping profiles of hundreds of suggested matches without any result. Instead, Happn says that it will track your movement during the day and connect you with people with whom you’ve crossed paths during the day. It’s perfect, especially for students. That’s why Happn is considered one of the best free college hookup apps.

Happn requires every account to be connected to social media, particularly Facebook. The system imports all the required information and photo from your Facebook accounts and creates a profile within seconds. Some people avoid connecting their social media accounts to Happn, thinking that their friends will be able to see it. But the platform doesn’t post anything on your Facebook account.

Pros:

• Happn easily finds and connects you with local singles;
• There is a wide choice of filters for conducting an extensive search;
• Besides text messages, you can also send voice.

Cons:

• It isn’t easy to find a match from somewhere you have never physically been;
• The app is useful in cities with a large population;
• The platform has no desktop client.

Prices:

Free membership is present.

• 24.99 USD/1 month
• 89.99 USD/6 months
• 119.9 USD/12 months

Verdict

College hookup apps have completely changed the dating culture of college students. Now, students don’t have to go to parties, bars, or nightclubs to meet hookup partners there. Due to online dating apps, you can concentrate on your exams and homework and check out profiles of hot guys nearby. The matchmaking algorithm of the best college hookup apps is based on the location of users. They find the candidates in your university or campus and suggest viewing their profile. This is when the advantages of online dating over real-life dating become clear. Due to college hookup apps, you learn a lot about the person before even exchanging a word. And in real-life meetings, you have to go through all the trouble of communicating with someone to discover who they are, what they like or dislike.

Frequently Asked Questions

🧡Do college hookup apps suggest accurate candidates?

The accuracy of recommended matches depends on the accuracy of information submitted on your profile. If you say that you like swimming but you it, the system will suggest people who also like swimming. Hence, the recommendation will be wrong. To get recommended highly compatible users, make sure to enter correct personal information.

💛Can you meet someone from your campus on college hookup apps?

Yes, the likelihood of meeting someone living on your campus or studying at the same college is pretty high. College hookup apps use the GPS on users’ phones to identify their locations and find compatible users near them.

💚How should you keep your data safe on college hookup apps?

Quality college hookup apps have advanced security technologies in place to keep users’ information safe. Additionally, users can also take measures to protect their privacy. If you notice a fake profile or one with suspicious behavior, don’t hesitate to report and block it.

💙Are college hookup apps free?

Yes, most college hookup apps offer free membership, but their functionality is restricted as a rule. These apps aren’t entirely free. Users can access all of their features only if they subscribe to the premium membership.

💜Are college hookup apps suitable for people of all orientations?

Yes, usually, these platforms are modern and open-minded. They welcome all people regardless of their sexual orientations. But besides mainstream apps, there are also niche college hookup apps designed exceptionally for the representatives of the LGBT community.